The Microsco;pic Germ Theory of Disease. By H. 0. Bastian. 65 
prickle cells may be taken as indicative of this structure haviug 
become inyolved. In epithelioma occurring in connection with 
flattened epithelium^ both lobular and tubular, they mostly occur. 
Their development seems to be in direct ratio to the vigour of 
growth present, and accordingly they were very large in granula- 
tions snipped from a perineal fistula. Papilloma and rodent ulcer 
afford fine specimens ; and probably always the best occur in 
diseases of the transitional epithelium extending from the lips to 
the cardiac orifice, and on the conjunctival, anal, or preputial 
epidermis. I have found them unusually fine in a section of 
preputial chancre. I believe it to be the opinion of Professor 
Lister, who discovered these cells independently, and named them 
" echinate," that rodent ulcer, when they are present in it, should 
be considered as allied to, if not identical with, epithelioma. The 
presence of prickle-cells in cylindroma leads me strongly to doubt 
the origin of that form of cancer from the sudariparous glands, 
according to the received notion. But, as I indicated at first, the 
real meaning, for medicine and surgery, of these curious celb, 
remains to be investigated ; and it is necessary that some one should 
do that for their origin, varied forms, monstrosities, and pathological 
distribution which has been so laboriously accomplished for their 
anatomy in fishes and amphibia by Professor F. Schultze. My 
present attempt has been, so far, merely to see more of the true 
character of their intimate structure, and, if possible, to determine 
the true mode in which they are united together. — The British 
Medical Journal, June 26. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE OXII. 
Fig. 1. — Epidermic "prickle and ridge" cells; or "spinous," "furrowed," or 
" echinate." 
a. Papillary tumour of tongue. 
6. Human epidermis (Max Schultze). 
c. Ext. layer, middle cells — Cornea of pig : Strieker and Rollett, 
d. Cellules dentele'es of cylindroma : Cornil and Eanvier (1869). 
„ 2. — Conjoined epithelium (1000 diameters). 
YII. — The Microscopic Germ Theory of Disease; heing a Discus- 
sion of the Belaiion of Bacteria and Allied Organisms to 
Virulent Inflam^mations and Specific Contagious Fevers. By 
H. Chaelton Bastian, M.D., F.E.S., Professor of Patho- 
logical Anatomy in University College. 
When honoured by a request from the Council of this Society,* a 
few weeks since, to open a debate during the current session, com- 
pliance with such a wish was regarded by me as a professional 
duty. I was compelled, therefore, to do the best 1 could with the 
short time and limited leisure which presented themselves, though 
* An address delivered before the Pathological Society of London, 
